February 16 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Archibald Henderson, professor at UNC, Chapel Hill.
Dear Dr Henderson:
Mr. Clemens’ comment was: “Mightily interesting and very ingenious.” And he was deep/y touched with your reference to Mrs Clemens.
There are but two emendations—that relating to Miss Lyon’s building of Stormfield, & that relating to his age when he & Mrs Clemens started out on their debt-paying tour, The house—in its design & decorations—is totally a product of Miss Lyon’s mind, and Mr Clemens desires that credit be given her. / Yours very Sincerely / R. W. Ashcroft [MTP]. Note: Hill points out that Sam’s credit to Lyon together with Clara’s prior decoration of 21 Fifth Ave. proved one source of conflict between the two women [205].
Isabel Lyon wrote to Harriet Whitmore Enders that Ralph W. Ashcroft and she were to be married.
Hill quotes from her letter:
“The psychic moment hasn’t come yet for telling the King...it won’t make any difference in my life work with the King. I'll stay right here, and Benares will come when he can to be with us both” [218]. Note: this was one week before Isabel left to recuperate in Hartford with her mother.
Finley Peter Dunne for American Magazine wrote to Sam enclosing the letter “from a very old friend” (Wallace Rice; Feb. 15). Also, “As president of the — — Human Race Association I intend to call a meeting of our organization very soon. From a number of applications I have chosen you as Caterer and your house as the meeting place...Until then, oh Wise but Wicked! / Ever yours...” [MTP]. Note: MT wrote on the letter in black ink: “From ‘Mr. Dooley’ / ans”
Japan Construction Co., NYC wrote to ask if Sam would like a “Japanese garden” on his grounds [MTP].
Caspar Whitney for Collier’s Weekly wrote to ask Sam what the country or outdoors meant to him; he was writing “several distinguished Americans the meaning of the country to them...” He added, “I meant to talk this out the other night when I had the great pleasure of dining with you at Rob Collier’s, but the honest God truth is, I was so entertained by your talk of the West and of Zola’s extraordinary book, — I entirely forgot it” [MTP]. Note: which of Emile Zola’s books is not clear.